Must-Have Resources for Low-Income College Students

A good advisor or mentor can make all the difference. They can guide you in decision-making in college and in life. They’re there to listen, understand what you’re going through, and help you get what you need. Here’s who you should seek out at your school for mentoring or advice:

• Graduate assistants:
  Graduate assistants are grad students who provide support to the department often in exchange for tuition assistance or aid. Part of this includes teaching or helping teach classes. If you have a graduate assistant in one of your classes, they can be a great resource for you, since they’re students themselves and have been in your shoes.
• Professors:
  Professors can be more than just teachers. They can connect you with internships and jobs and give you general life advice. They’re also understanding of low-income students’ situations, so don’t be afraid to speak up if you’re facing challenges completing classwork. They want you to succeed and may be able to help.
• School counselors:
  School counselors do more than just help you with your class schedule. They can also help you find financial aid, apply for internships and jobs, and make sure you’re on track to graduate. In addition, they may can connect low-income students with resources to succeed in college and in life.
• Alumni networks:
  Alumni networks are associations of graduates from a particular school. They organize networking events, publish newsletters about what graduates are doing, and connect graduates with each other for jobs. They’re great for current students, too, if you want information on graduate life or access to an older mentor who was once where you are.

According to a 2017 survey by Temple University, an estimated 36 percent of college students don’t get enough to eat. Having the money to afford food can become even more difficult when you have a family, as can finding the time to balance both parenting and college. It can be done. Here are some resources to help:

• Campus daycare:
  If you’re a parent, campus daycares are great for a number of reasons. For one, the cost is often very cheap, much more-so than other kinds of daycare. Another great thing is that the daycares are on your campus, so you won’t have to go far to pick up your kid/s.
• College food banks:
  College food banks provide free food for the college students and families who need it most. These are typically non-perishable foods like canned foods and snacks. It can also include basic necessities like toothpaste, toilet paper, and laundry detergent. Many colleges and universities across the country have food banks or food pantries. A couple of great examples include Grand Rapids Community College and Brookhaven College. These are a great option for low-income students who have found a way to afford college but still struggle to cover basic costs of everyday life. Check to see if your school has a food bank.
• Campus kitchens:
  Some colleges give low-income students free food. That’s the case at the University of Washington, with their Any Hungry Husky program. This program offers a food pantry full of shelf-stable groceries and fresh produce, as well as a grant for low-income students that goes toward food on campus. Another great resource for low-income students is The Campus Kitchen Project. They provide healthy meals to campuses and the community-at-large, as well as culinary job training if you’d like to go into that field without all the debt. See what your college offers at its cafeteria. You may be surprised what you find.
• Reduced-cost dining:
  Some colleges offer reduced-cost dining for students, including low-income students. Sometimes this comes in the form of one-time grants and other times it can be ongoing or even a membership. A great example of a college that does this membership-based model is Vanderbilt University. Perhaps your college offers something like this as well.
• SNAP:
  SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) provides a monthly supplement for buying healthy food. People who qualify get a debit card to use for groceries. This can greatly help low-income students afford groceries. Some colleges, such as Capital Community College and the College of Charleston, offer this program for students. It’s worth looking into at your own college.
• FoodPantries.org:
  FoodPantries.org is a great resource low-income students can use to find food pantries in their area and information on subsidized groceries. Many colleges have started providing food pantries on campus, such as Michigan State University and George Washington University. Use the tool on FoodPantries.org to see which food pantries are available in your area, on or off campus.

Being able to get to your classes is crucial. For many low-income students, it’s not always easy to find affordable, reliable transportation to school. Thankfully, there are plenty of affordable transportation options for students of any income bracket. Here are just five of the many ways you can get to and from school:

• College shuttles:
  College shuttles are buses that pick up and drop off college students. They often have stops on and off campus. They could go anywhere from across the campus to across the city. It varies. Some are free and some cost money, but it’s typically an affordable option. Click the link above to see some shuttle options in your area.
• Bus:
  If you don’t have a car, your local city bus could be a great way to get to and from school. This is usually a very affordable option, costing less in the short-term than car insurance and gas money would. You just have to make sure you’re near a route that goes to your school.
• Cheap used car:
  Not all cars cost a lot of money. If you have some money saved up, you could possibly afford an older, inexpensive car from a private seller or get a cheap loan from a dealership. Just because it’s not new doesn’t mean it can’t be in great shape. Explore your options.
• Carpool:
  If you have friends in your neighborhood who go to the same school as you, one way you could cut costs on transportation is to carpool. So ask around. See if you know anyone with similar schedules or just be willing to be on campus when they’re on campus, if possible.
• Walk:
  Walking isn’t for everyone. But if you live pretty close to campus, it’ll save you a lot of money. Just make sure the area is safe and be willing to find an alternative way home at night if you don’t feel comfortable walking home at night. Even doing this some of the time could save you money.

After paying for a class, there are often additional expenses, such as books. While you can’t usually choose which books to buy (this is typically laid out in the syllabus), you can choose how you buy them. For low-income students looking to save money, here are five affordable options for getting textbooks:

• Libraries:
  Whether it’s your school library or a library in your community, this is a great way to save money on textbooks. This option shouldn’t cost you a dime. Just make sure the library has the book you’re looking for and that you can check it out for as long as you need.
  
• Book swaps:
  If you have a friend who took the class you’re taking and still has the book, you could ask them to lend it to you. You could also trade them for a book they need. Some schools like Heartland Community College even have textbook swapping programs. See if your school does as well.
• E-books:
  The great thing about e-books is they’re often cheaper than print books. This is key for low-income students. It’s also more convenient, since you can have all your textbooks on one device and not have to carry around a heavy backpack full of books. Just make sure there’s an e-book version of what you need.
• Textbook rentals:
  Renting a textbook instead of buying one can save you a lot of money. Unless you want to keep the book forever, this is a great option, especially for low-income students looking to save some money. There are many places and websites that offer this service, including CampusBooks.com and TextbookRentals.com.
• Amazon:
  A great alternative to buying books from your campus bookstore is buying them on Amazon. This is often the cheaper option. Amazon has so many books available, too, and you can really shop around for the best deals. They even often let you choose between print textbooks and e-book textbooks.
  

Finding affordable healthcare as a low-income student can be difficult. Healthcare is generally not cheap, especially if you don’t have money saved up or health insurance. You don’t have to avoid doctors altogether, though. You still have options. Here are five medical and health services low-income students can take advantage of:

• Campus medical health services:
  The great thing about being a college student is that you have access to free (or cheap) healthcare right on campus. This is something nearly all schools offer and includes checkups, testing, and sometimes even free medications. This will save you lots of money and could help you stay healthy during college.
  
• Campus mental health services:
  Another great service many colleges offer is free counseling. Sometimes this is with a licensed therapist and other times it’s with a graduate student training to be a licensed therapist. Either way, you get someone to talk to for free, which could be a huge help for low-income students, especially during stressful times.
• Local homeless medical clinics:
  Throughout the country, there are a number of homeless medical clinics. You don’t necessarily have to be homeless to go to one of these. They cater to low-income people as well. The charge is usually what you can afford, making this a great option for low-income students. See if there’s one near you.
• Helplines:
  If you have a medical concern and can’t afford to see a doctor or aren’t even sure you need one, calling a medical helpline can be a great option. These services allow you to talk on the phone to a medical professional about your concerns. Great options include Nurses On-Call and FreeDoctorHelpline.
• Online chat:
  If you’re not big into talking on the phone to a medical professional, you could also chat to one online about your medical concerns. This shouldn’t, of course, replace a doctor visit, but it could help ease your anxiety until you’re able to afford one. A great app that offers this is First Opinion.